News for 'Study of Developing Societies'

'We know India can run -- judging by cricket -- but can it fly?'

'We know India can run -- judging by cricket -- but can it fly?'

Rediff.com18 Mar 2015

The elements are all aligned to make India a global powerhouse, says IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

Suit boot ki sarkar definitely better than suitcase ki sarkar: PM

Suit boot ki sarkar definitely better than suitcase ki sarkar: PM

Rediff.com30 May 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently completed one year in office, has, in an exclusive interview with Smita Prakash, editor, ANI, said the opposition alleging that his government is a "suit boot ki sarkar" is definitely better and more acceptable than being labelled a "suitcase" (ki sarkar), and satirically added, that after ruling for sixty years, the Congress has suddenly remembered the poor.

Read: Prez Obama's address to the people of India at Siri Fort

Read: Prez Obama's address to the people of India at Siri Fort

Rediff.com27 Jan 2015

Full transcript of President Obama's speech at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.

'Every single child matters, every single childhood matters'

'Every single child matters, every single childhood matters'

Rediff.com10 Dec 2014

Kailash Satyarthi, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, in front of packed crowd made a rousing speech asking every person to come together and set our children free. He honoured those who came before him and also said that he accepted this honour on behalf of all the martyrs and activists in India. Here's the transcript of his moving acceptance speech.

You could tell Dr Kalam was unhappy when he said...

You could tell Dr Kalam was unhappy when he said...

Rediff.com4 Aug 2015

Dr P K Menon, Chief Scientist and CEO, Optimal Synthesis Inc, who worked with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam early on in his career, recalls what it was like working for his first boss.

In the line of fire: '5 architects of Congress' poll debacle'

In the line of fire: '5 architects of Congress' poll debacle'

Rediff.com18 May 2014

Disappointed and angry Congress members are likely to train their guns on Rahul Gandhi's team of advisors for inept handling of the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign, says Rediff.com contributor Anita Katyal

Lift AFSPA, ban pellet guns, Opposition suggests at all party meet on Kashmir

Lift AFSPA, ban pellet guns, Opposition suggests at all party meet on Kashmir

Rediff.com12 Aug 2016

It was also suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Kashmir to assess the situation but the government did not make commitments regarding any of their demands.

Exclusive! THE AMIT SHAH INTERVIEW 'There is no politics of Hindu-Mussalman'

Exclusive! THE AMIT SHAH INTERVIEW 'There is no politics of Hindu-Mussalman'

Rediff.com3 Nov 2014

The second part of BJP president Amit Shah's interview to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

Pravasi Special: 'Modi has enthused the Diaspora'

Pravasi Special: 'Modi has enthused the Diaspora'

Rediff.com8 Jan 2015

The Diaspora is no longer a mere remittance economy. It today claims dual loyalty and demands a say in Indian politics, says sociologist Shiv Visvanathan

Posco's Odisha journey: Travails of a big-ticket project

Posco's Odisha journey: Travails of a big-ticket project

Rediff.com20 May 2015

Is it inconsistency in policy, or the lack of robust support?

How dangerous is plastic packaging?

How dangerous is plastic packaging?

Rediff.com7 Jun 2016

After recognising its adverse health effects, the govt has now dismissed its own lab reports to conclude that the evidence against plastic is insufficient.

As India remembers 26/11, jihadist threats multiply

As India remembers 26/11, jihadist threats multiply

Rediff.com26 Nov 2014

Through its early days to the 1980s, Pakistan sought to expand its sphere of Islamic influence through Afghanistan to Central Asia and got Pakistani citizens recruited in the Afghan government institutions in the 1990s when the Taliban were power. Now, it is looking eastward through India to Bangladesh and Myanmar to establish an imaginary caliphate.

'India cannot be governed through macho men'

'India cannot be governed through macho men'

Rediff.com16 May 2014

'There was an overt campaign and there was a covert campaign. The overt campaign may be development, government, and all this nonsense. But the covert campaign, which Mr Amit Shah was doing, was far more important with the help of RSS cadres. This has been an RSS election. From day one I have been saying, this is not Congress versus the BJP, this is Congress versus the RSS,' says Jairam Ramesh, one of the key strategists of the Congress party.

'Interlinking rivers will be disastrous for India'

'Interlinking rivers will be disastrous for India'

Rediff.com27 Apr 2015

'Why should the people of Odisha divert water from the Mahanadhi when 13 out of 32 districts are chronically drought prone?' 'Water is a state subject. Can you really nationalise rivers for which you need drastic amendments in the Constitution?'

'Our only intent was to test our limits'

'Our only intent was to test our limits'

Rediff.com21 Apr 2016

Nidhi Tiwari speaks about her road trip from Delhi to London.

The Dreamer!

The Dreamer!

Rediff.com9 Oct 2015

The inspiring story of B Udhaya Krishna and his friends is the story of today's aspirational India, the India that encourages entrepreneurial spirit. Hurdles like poverty, discouragement and insults are just temporary hindrances in front of them to work hard to achieve their dreams.

Let Modi help J&K the way he did Kutch

Let Modi help J&K the way he did Kutch

Rediff.com23 Sep 2014

'Modi as chief minister did a superb job of rehabilitation after the Kutch earthquake of 2001. He can use that hard-earned expertise for the benefit of the people of Kashmir too -- but only if they let him do so,' says T V R Shenoy.

How the Internet was born, 25 years ago

How the Internet was born, 25 years ago

Rediff.com13 Nov 2015

November 12 marks 25 years of the beginning of the World Wide Web. Shivanand Kanavi gives us the story of how it all began.

Kalki: I will always have a connect with Anurag Kashyap

Kalki: I will always have a connect with Anurag Kashyap

Rediff.com19 Nov 2014

'I can't talk to the media about why Anurag and I split because it would be like writing an entire book to understand and do justice to it,' Kalki Koechlin tells Sonil Dedhia.

'The Kasturirangan Report is a disaster for the Western Ghats'

'The Kasturirangan Report is a disaster for the Western Ghats'

Rediff.com30 Dec 2013

'If the Kasturirangan Committee report is implemented, the mining and quarrying lobbies will flourish... It will be disastrous for the environment... There will be water shortage, there will be pollution. Finally, farmers will have to quit the area.' Dr V S Vijayan, a member of the Gadgil Committee, points out how the Kasturirangan Committee report will hit both people living in the Western Ghats as well as the plains.

The manufacturing of 'terrorists'

The manufacturing of 'terrorists'

Rediff.com5 Dec 2014

'Counter terrorism does not appear to be good guys fighting the bad ones; it is about people being picked up, detained and charged with crimes they did not commit.'

'The first hint Trump will be tough on Pakistan'

'The first hint Trump will be tough on Pakistan'

Rediff.com30 Jun 2017

'In the past the US has been reluctant to name Pakistan directly in an US-India joint statement.'

Siachen: Toughest call of duty for the Indian soldier

Siachen: Toughest call of duty for the Indian soldier

Rediff.com10 Feb 2016

'At an altitude of 5,000 metres, the levels of oxygen in the blood of a healthy soldier would be similar to that of a patient with a severe lung disorder at sea level.' 'While such patients are admitted to ICUs, confined to bed and treated with continuous oxygen therapy, the soldier at 5,000 metres with similar levels of oxygen in his blood performs intense physical activity and fights the enemy!' BharatShakti.in founder Nitin Gokhale reveals the ordeals that await soldiers when they are posted to the Siachen glacier.

Three issues that may lead to cleaner polls

Three issues that may lead to cleaner polls

Rediff.com11 Jul 2013

Mahesh Vijapurkar is hopeful that two Supreme Court directives and Gopinath Munde's confession that he spent Rs 8 crore to get elected to the Lok Sabha may lead to a possibility that the processes administered by the Election Commission may get cleaner, even if only over time.

A remarkable Indian you never heard of

A remarkable Indian you never heard of

Rediff.com8 Mar 2017

ACN Nambiar's life was extraordinary and intricately linked to momentous turns in history. Having lived in Europe for five decades, he was witness to and entangled with what we today -- with the benefit of hindsight -- call recent history.

Meet the Castros!

Meet the Castros!

Rediff.com26 Nov 2016

'There is perfect coordination between them,' Vice-President Hamid Ansari said when Rediff.com asked what differences he had noted between Raul Castro and his elder brother. 'Commandante (Fidel Castro) remains the undisputed leader of the revolution.'

BJP working towards a Uniform Civil Code

BJP working towards a Uniform Civil Code

Rediff.com29 Dec 2014

Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Ansari believes a national debate on a Uniform Civil Code is a must. 'The need of the hour is to debate this issue at length in order to create a consensus,' Ansari tells Rediff.com, adding, 'Such a debate must take place at the grassroot level. We must understand all the divergent viewpoints before any draft can be prepared.'

'We have the majority. Why can't Mulayam see it?'

'We have the majority. Why can't Mulayam see it?'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2017

Several SP leaders fear Muslim voters may shift loyalty, which will benefit rivals like the BJP.

'Countries that forget their history cannot have a future'

'Countries that forget their history cannot have a future'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2014

Mahesh Rangarajan, director of the historic Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi, tells Sheela Bhatt how the first prime minister will always remain relevant, and the efforts being made to keep his legacy alive.

'Modi represents the T20 generation'

'Modi represents the T20 generation'

Rediff.com16 May 2014

What is Narendra Modi like? What is his politics about? What will he do? What are his priorities? Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com speaks to Swapan Dasgupta to find out more about the man of the moment.

Why staying hungry can be BAD for you!

Why staying hungry can be BAD for you!

Rediff.com30 Nov 2016

'With enjoyable physical activity, stress release quality sleep and the right diet, we can reverse the metabolic damage which is wreaking havoc in the world and especially in India.'

What India's 2nd most powerful man says about UP

What India's 2nd most powerful man says about UP

Rediff.com30 Jan 2017

BJP President Amit Shah -- arguably the second most powerful politician in the nation -- granted a rare television interview to the Network 18 group of news channels. Rediff.com's Rajesh Alva checks out what the BJP boss said in this word cloud assessment of the interview.

'People should not think our party men kill each other'

'People should not think our party men kill each other'

Rediff.com28 Mar 2014

'I told him when I started my political career seven decades ago he was not even born. His political activities, the protests he organises and the way he fights the biggest corporate of India, the Ambanis, give hope to all people who are progressive. My desire is that such a party must grow, and I wished him all success for its growth.' V S Achuthanandan, the senior-most Communist in India, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier why he turned down Arvind Kejriwal's invitation to join the Aam Aadmi Party.

Udta Punjab: Conservative's miscalculation, liberal's fantasy

Udta Punjab: Conservative's miscalculation, liberal's fantasy

Rediff.com5 Jul 2016

'Is there a connection between the way we pitched the entire issue of Udta Punjab's censorship and the apologetic, full-of-very-specific-answers tone of the movie?' 'Maybe it's just me, but as an Indian liberal, I am more scared of us liberals than I am of the average Indian conservative bloke,' says Sreehari Nair.

The Sari Satyagraha

The Sari Satyagraha

Rediff.com26 Jan 2018

A short story by an award-winning writer.

'Rajinikanth has no insecurity'

'Rajinikanth has no insecurity'

Rediff.com9 May 2016

'It's an experience of a lifetime. It's the first time I acted in a South Indian film where I was treated as an equal by an actor.'

Priyanka: I am very greedy about my work

Priyanka: I am very greedy about my work

Rediff.com1 Jun 2015

Priyanka Chopra on stereotypes, movies and more.

US aid to Pakistan is no panacea, but neither are sanctions

US aid to Pakistan is no panacea, but neither are sanctions

Rediff.com9 Sep 2016

After weighing all the costs and benefits, the next administration is likely to reduce and restructure assistance to Pakistan but not to end it altogether, says Daniel S Markey.

'If I don't get a film, I will start a canteen in Film City'

'If I don't get a film, I will start a canteen in Film City'

Rediff.com18 Mar 2015

'I don't know about being superstar, but one day if I become like Shah Rukh Khan, I will not mind that. If I get the kind of films that I really want to do, and if I manage to survive in this industry, I will become somebody like that.' Sushant Singh Rajput talks movies.

New York City Hall welcomes Nisha and Udai

New York City Hall welcomes Nisha and Udai

Rediff.com20 Mar 2014

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced the appointment of Nisha Agarwal, one of the leading advocates in the city for the immigrant communities, as commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.